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Exam preparation

IELTS Academic preparation

For university study and professional registration.

Applying to a university, or to register in a profession where English is required? Here is how IELTS Academic works, which band matches which English level, and how to prepare step by step with myedu.lk.

Check your level Start free
Length
About 2 hours 45 minutes
Sections
Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Scores
Bands 0–9, in half bands
Taken
On paper or on computer

myedu.lk is not affiliated with IELTS (British Council, IDP, Cambridge University Press & Assessment), Pearson (PTE) or ETS (TOEFL). Practice scores are estimates, not official results.

The test at a glance

IELTS Academic has four sections. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken one after another on the same day; Speaking is a separate conversation with an examiner.

IELTS Academic: sections, what they test and timing
Section What it tests
Listening About 30 minutes · 4 parts, 40 questions Recorded conversations and talks. You listen for the main ideas, for detail and for the speakers’ opinions and purpose.
Reading 60 minutes · 40 questions Three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. You read for the main ideas, for detail and for the writer’s opinions and arguments.
Writing 60 minutes · 2 tasks Task 1: describe a graph, table, chart, diagram or process in at least 150 words. Task 2: write an essay of at least 250 words.
Speaking 11–14 minutes · 3 parts A conversation with an examiner in three parts: questions about familiar topics, a short talk on a topic you are given, and a longer discussion.
  • In total the test takes about 2 hours 45 minutes.
  • Scores are bands from 0 to 9, in half bands (for example 6.5), for each skill and overall.
  • You can take the test on paper or on computer.

Formats change — always check the official test website before you book.

Official website: ielts.org (opens in a new tab) · Information checked September 2026

Which score do you need?

Universities, employers, professional bodies and visa offices each decide which band they accept — sometimes with a minimum for each skill as well as overall. Find out your target first, then use this table to see the English level and the myedu.lk course that match it.

IELTS band, approximate CEFR level and the matching myedu.lk course
IELTS band CEFR level (approx.) Matching course
4.0–5.0 B1 B1 Intermediate English
5.5–6.5 B2 B2 Upper-intermediate English
7.0–8.0 C1 C1 Advanced English
8.5–9.0 C2 C2 Proficient English

Approximate, from the test providers’ published alignments with the CEFR (the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Universities and visa offices set their own requirements.

Below B1 at the moment? Start with our A1 or A2 course first — see all courses.

Your learning path

Five steps from where you are now to test day. Take them in order, and repeat steps 4 and 5 until your practice scores reach your target.

  1. Step 1: Check your level

    Available

    Find out which CEFR level you are at now. It shows how far you are from your target and which course to start with.

    Take the free placement check

  2. Step 2: Build your English

    Available

    Work through the myedu.lk course for your target level. The courses build the grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and speaking that your band score depends on.

    • IELTS band 4.0–5.0 · B1

      Level: Intermediate General English

      B1 Intermediate English

      Book 3 of 6 · English Self-Learning Series · 12 weeks

      • 77 lessons
      • About 72 hours

      Price: Free

      Free preview lessons

    • IELTS band 5.5–6.5 · B2

      Level: Upper-intermediate General English

      B2 Upper-intermediate English

      Book 4 of 6 · English Self-Learning Series · 12 weeks

      • 73 lessons
      • About 72 hours

      Price: Free

      Free preview lessons

    • IELTS band 7.0–8.0 · C1

      Level: Advanced General English

      C1 Advanced English

      Book 5 of 6 · English Self-Learning Series · 16 weeks

      • 81 lessons
      • About 96 hours

      Price: Free

      Free preview lessons

    • IELTS band 8.5–9.0 · C2

      Level: Proficient General English

      C2 Proficient English

      Book 6 of 6 · English Self-Learning Series · 16 weeks

      • 81 lessons
      • About 96 hours

      Price: Free

      Free preview lessons

  3. Step 3: Learn the question types and strategies

    Coming soon

    Short exam-skills lessons on every IELTS Academic question type and writing task, with timing tips and model answers.

    Until they open, practise with the free sample questions on the official IELTS website (opens in a new tab).

  4. Step 4: Take full mock exams

    Coming soon

    Sit complete IELTS Academic practice tests under timed conditions, then get your results with teacher feedback on your writing. Our mock exams are original papers written for myedu.lk, and their scores are estimates, not official IELTS results.

  5. Step 5: Review your weak areas and retest

    Coming soon

    Practise the question types and tasks that cost you marks, then take a fresh paper — one you have not seen before — to check your progress.

Study plans

Pick the plan that fits the time before your test. Every plan starts with a level check in the first week, builds in regular timed practice, and has a full mock test at the midpoint and again in the last weeks, with review weeks to fix what the mocks show.

For the full mocks, use a myedu.lk mock exam when they open for this test, or an official practice test.

Plans assume you already have the level below your target; if the placement check puts you lower, start with the course for your level first.

Intensive · 6 weeks

About 15 hours a week

Suits you if: your test date is close and you can study on most days.

Daily time
About two and a half hours a day, six days a week.
In total
About 90 hours over 6 weeks.
How to split it
About a third of your time on the course for your target level, the rest on test practice.
Show the week-by-week plan (Intensive, 6 weeks)
IELTS Academic, Intensive plan: what to do week by week
Weeks Focus and what to do
Week 1 Level check and the test format Take the placement check and one timed Listening and Reading section to see where you are. Learn how each section works, then start the course for your target level.
Week 2 Listening and Academic Reading question types Take one question type a day — for example note completion, matching headings or True / False / Not Given — and finish every day with a timed Listening or Reading set.
Week 3 Writing Tasks 1 and 2, Speaking Parts 1–3 Full mock test Every other day, write a Task 1 report on a graph, table, chart, diagram or process and a Task 2 essay within 60 minutes. Record your answers to Speaking questions. At the end of the week, take a full mock under timed conditions.
Week 4 Review week Go through the mock skill by skill. Redo the question types you got wrong, rewrite your weaker writing task and practise the Speaking part that felt hardest.
Week 5 Timed practice Full mock test A timed section every day, rotating the four skills. At the end of the week, take a second full mock on a fresh paper and compare the results with the first.
Week 6 Final review and test-day routine Fix the mistakes from the second mock, keep practice short and timed, and rehearse your test-day timetable. Rest the day before the test.

Standard · 12 weeks

About 8 hours a week

Suits you if: you have about three months and can study most days alongside work or classes.

Daily time
About an hour and a half a day, five or six days a week.
In total
About 100 hours over 12 weeks.
How to split it
About half your time on the course for your target level and half on test practice, with more test practice from week 8.
Show the week-by-week plan (Standard, 12 weeks)
IELTS Academic, Standard plan: what to do week by week
Weeks Focus and what to do
Week 1 Level check and the test format Take the placement check and one timed Listening and Reading section. Learn how each section works and start the course for your target level.
Weeks 2–3 Listening and Academic Reading question types Study two or three question types a week, such as note completion, labelling a map or diagram, matching headings and True / False / Not Given. End each week with a timed Listening and Reading section.
Weeks 4–5 Writing Task 1 and Task 2 Task 1: write an overview, pick out the key features and make comparisons in at least 150 words. Task 2: plan first, then write a clear essay of at least 250 words. Write one of each every week within 60 minutes.
Week 6 Speaking Parts 1–3 Full mock test Practise short answers, a two-minute talk and a longer discussion, and record yourself. At the end of the week, take a full mock under timed conditions.
Week 7 Review week Go through the mock by skill and question type. Redo what you got wrong and rewrite your weaker writing task.
Weeks 8–9 Timed practice Two or three timed sections a week, with extra work on the skill furthest from your target. Keep up your course lessons.
Week 10 Second full mock Full mock test Take a full mock on a fresh paper early in the week, compare it with the first and start on the mistakes it shows.
Week 11 Review week Timed sets on your two weakest question types, one Task 1 and one Task 2 within 60 minutes, and Speaking practice with a timer.
Week 12 Final review and test-day routine Short timed sections only, a last look at your list of common mistakes and a rehearsal of your test-day timetable. Rest the day before the test.

Steady · 24 weeks

About 4 hours a week

Suits you if: your test is six months or more away, or you want to build your English at a gentle pace.

Daily time
About 40 minutes a day, six days a week.
In total
About 100 hours over 24 weeks.
How to split it
Mostly course lessons at first, with more test practice from week 13.
Show the week-by-week plan (Steady, 24 weeks)
IELTS Academic, Steady plan: what to do week by week
Weeks Focus and what to do
Weeks 1–2 Level check and the test format Take the placement check and one timed Listening and Reading section. Learn how each section works and start the course for your target level.
Weeks 3–6 Listening and Academic Reading question types One question type a week alongside your course lessons, finishing each week with a timed Listening or Reading set.
Weeks 7–10 Writing Task 1 and Task 2 Alternate weeks: a Task 1 report one week and a Task 2 essay the next, each within the exam time. Keep a list of the grammar and vocabulary mistakes you make most often.
Weeks 11–12 Speaking Parts 1–3 Full mock test Record yourself answering Speaking questions each week. At the end of week 12, take a full mock under timed conditions.
Weeks 13–14 Review weeks Go through the mock by skill and question type, and redo everything you got wrong.
Weeks 15–18 Timed practice One timed section every week, rotating the four skills, with extra practice on your weakest skill.
Weeks 19–20 Second full mock and review Full mock test Take a full mock on a fresh paper in week 19, and use week 20 to work on the mistakes it shows.
Weeks 21–22 Your weakest areas Short timed sets on the two question types or tasks that cost you the most marks.
Week 23 Final full mock Full mock test A last full mock on a fresh paper, under test conditions.
Week 24 Final review and test-day routine Review your list of common mistakes, keep practice light and rehearse your test-day timetable.

Frequently asked questions

Is myedu.lk an official IELTS centre?

No. myedu.lk is an independent English learning website and is not affiliated with the organisations that own and run IELTS (British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment). We help you prepare; to take the real test, book it through the official IELTS website, ielts.org, or an official test centre.

Are myedu.lk mock exam scores official?

No. Our mock exams are original practice papers, and their scores are estimates that show your progress and what to work on next. They are not official IELTS results and cannot be used for university, job or visa applications.

Should I take IELTS Academic or General Training?

IELTS Academic is for university study and professional registration; General Training is for work, training and migration. Always check which one the university, professional body, employer or visa office asks for. If you need General Training, see our IELTS General Training page.

Should I take IELTS on paper or on computer?

Both test the same four skills and give the same kind of band scores, so choose the one you feel most comfortable with. If you choose the computer test, practise reading long texts on screen and typing your answers within the time.

How long does it take to go up half a band?

It depends on your starting level, how much you study and which skill is holding you back, so no one can honestly promise a date. As a rough guide, English courses often plan around 200 hours of study to move up one CEFR level (for example, from B1 to B2). Half a band is a smaller step, but it often still takes several weeks of regular practice, especially in writing and speaking. Timed practice with feedback shows whether you are moving in the right direction.

Do I need to finish a whole course before I take IELTS?

Not necessarily. The courses build the English behind your score, and the study plans on this page mix course lessons with test practice. If your level is below the level of your target, start with the course for your level first.

Start preparing for IELTS Academic

Create a free account, check your level and begin with the course that matches your target score.

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